July 10 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, struggling to come up with a plane to compete with Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner, won orders for 117 aircraft in the first six months of the year, a quarter of the total of its U.S. rival.

Boeing received contracts for 480 airliners and delivered 195 over the same period, helped by demand for the new 787, according to the company's Web site. The European planemaker delivered 219 aircraft in the first half, the Toulouse, France-based company said on its Web site today.

Airbus's parent company said June 13 that delays to the A380 superjumbo would reduce earnings through 2010, and this month it replaced two executives. Of the Airbus orders so far this year, 82 percent were for the older, single-aisle A320. Airbus may receive fewer new contracts this year for the first time since 2000.

``Boeing is almost certain to come out ahead this year,'' said Doug McVitie, managing director at Arran Aerospace, a Dinan, France-based consulting company. ``It's tough to see how Airbus can possibly make up this deficit over the rest of the year.''

Shares of European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co., which owns 80 percent of Airbus, fell as much as 60 cents, or 2.8 percent, to 21.10 euros, and were down 1 percent at 2:33 p.m. in Paris. The stock is down 33 percent this year, including a 26 percent drop on June 14 after EADS said the A380s delays would reduce earnings by 2 billion euros ($2.5 billion) through 2010. Boeing's shares rose 70 cents to $80.69 in New York composite trading.

EADS on July 2 named French aerospace veteran Louis Gallois, 62, to replace Noel Forgeard as co-CEO. Christian Streiff, a former executive at glassmaker Saint Gobain SA, took over from Gustav Humbert as chief executive of Airbus.

A350 Versus 787

Airbus's A350 has sold only 100 so far, compared with 350 787s. Airbus, still No. 1 aircraft maker measured by deliveries, has said it will announce improvements to the A350 to respond to customers' demands for a more fuel efficient, faster plane and avoid ceding a market worth an estimated $450 billion over the next 20 years to Boeing.

While the European planemaker delivered more aircraft than Boeing in the first half, 219 compared with 195, the gap has been narrowing. Boeing has predicted it will retake the lead in 2008, when deliveries of the 787 are scheduled to begin.

Most of Airbus's first-half orders were for the A320 single- aisle family of planes, a total of 96. It received no orders for the new 555-seat A380, which is now at least a year behind schedule, and only 13 for the A350. Airbus Chief Operating Officer John Leahy said last week he expects 20 A380 orders this year.

Boeing's new orders in the six months included 69 for the 787 Dreamliner and 22 for its 777. It won 374 orders for the 737 single-aisle series, 11 for the 747, and four orders for the 767.

Airbus won orders for only three A340s, which compete with Boeing's 777. The A340 is the biggest Airbus plane now in service. It has four engines and is less fuel efficient than Boeing's two- engine 777. Fuel efficiency is a key selling point to airline customers, with oil prices hovering near record levels.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrea Rothman in Toulouse, France at aerothman@bloomberg.net; James Gunsalus in New York at jgunsalus@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 10, 2006 10:30 EDT